The Minister of State for Finance, Jayant Sinha, has said that implementing the One Rank One Pension scheme for military pensioners and the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission will not bankrupt the nation.

The Union Minister of Finance Arun Jaitley had a meeting with the financial experts in New Delhi yesterday. Following the meeting, Mr. Jayant Sinha spoke to the mediapersons. He said –

“We are managing the country’s finances very well. Experts have appreciated our efforts. The government’s financial condition is very stable. Therefore, there wouldn’t be a cash deficit even if the government implements the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission. Similarly, the government can very well manage the additional cash burden incurred by implementing the One Rank One Pension scheme for the military.

Implementing the OROP will result in additional expenses of Rs.8000-10,000 crores this year. The 7th Pay Commission’s recommendations will be submitted to the government in December this year. Giving increments to the Central Government employees will result in additional expenses to the Government. He confirmed that the government can comfortably manage these expenses.

A lot of important issues, including financial burdens, increasing employment opportunities and agricultural outputs, were discussed at the pre-Budget consultation. Some of the leading names in financial management in India had participated in the meeting. It is normal for governments to hold such meetings prior to the annual budget, but it is unusual that such a meeting was held with six months to go before the next Budget is due. Sinha said that the valuable suggestions that were given by the experts have made the meeting worthwhile, and have convinced them that holding such meetings in advance was a good move.

A number of useful suggestions were given on the schemes that have to be implemented in the current and the next Financial Years. The meeting also paved way for the joint implementation of many a schemes, he said.

Discussions on agriculture and the issues related to it took up most of the time at the meeting. “We discussed a number of suggestions on how to improve our agricultural production. We talked about financial deficits and ways to reduce expenses and austerity measures. We had also discussed public investment options and the importance of making them profitable.

“The other most important topic that we had talked about was the Ministry of Finance. We had discussed the need for increasing the loans offered to farmers, and to the micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, and the necessity for increasing job opportunity for youngsters. We had also discussed the steps that need to be taken to boost the large-scale and production-based industries, which are among the biggest sectors that offer employment.”

Major General Satbir Singh(Retd.), leader and adviser of the United Front of Ex-Servicemen, says that the action will bring to the people’s notice that the Centre has not fulfilled our demands on One Rank One Pension.

We have planned to return our gallantry medals to the government if it intentionally continues to delay implementing the OROP scheme without making the modifications that we have sought for. This time, we won’t be returning them to the President. We will hand them over to the Prime Minister himself!

Ex-servicemen who have been conducting relay hunger strikes at Jantar Mantar for the past 115 days demanding the implementation of OROP have decided to hand over 10,000 gallantry medals to the Prime Minister as a sign of their protest. They have written a letter to Narendra Modi in this regard. This was informed by Retired Major General Satbir Singh, who also is a prominent member of the protest committee.

Although the Centre had, on September 5, agreed in principle, to implement OROP, ex-servicemen are continuing to protest because they are frustrated that seven very important clauses have not been added to the scheme. “We are planning to return the medals to him because PM Modi had promised during the elections, that he will implement OROP. Also, we want the people to know that though OROP was announced, our demands have not been accepted,” he said.

At the time of accepting the demand, on September 5, the Government had said that it will issue proper orders within a month. More than a month has passed, but there are no signs of the orders.

Meanwhile, the United Front of Ex-Servicemen has announced that it will hold a massive rally in Jalandhar on October 18 to protest against the Government’s reluctance and delay in implementing the OROP. While replying to a question, Brigadier Amarjit Singh Minhas said that only 2 percent of the ex-servicemen are happy with the OROP announcement. Seven important demands, including annual revision of pension, year of implementation, one-man commission, and inclusion of soldiers who have taken premature retirement, have not been accepted by the Government.

Even as the Centre struggles in implementing the One Rank One Pension (OROP) system for former defence personnel, members of the paramilitary forces have now presented a demand to be included in the pension scheme.

More than the armed forces, we are the ones who are at the warfronts. We are being discriminated against when it comes to pension schemes. We want the OROP scheme to be implemented for us too, they say.

In a memorandum issued to 7th Central Pay Commission through Home Ministry, paramilitary forces has demanded the OROP for themeselves arguing that they are the ones who are at the warfronts.

The memorandum also insisted the difference in all special allowances with the armed forces. At present, the special allowances given to paramilitary troops is lesser than those given to Army or other service soldiers.

Where 20/25 minutes cordial discussion had in connection with implementation One Rank One Pension (OROP). He has assured our delegation, that by 1st week of April, 2015, modalities will be finalized & 1st payment will be made on 1st week of May,2015. Arrears will be paid in 4 equal installments.

Considering the deferred assurance given by the Hon’ble Defence Minister, available Central Committee Member in Delhi, decided to defer our agitational programe on 6th& 7th April, 2015. It is further to intimate that Central Executive Committee to a later date.

The representative also brought to the knowledge of the Hon’ble Defence Minister about the ECHS meeting scheduled to be held on 05th April, 2015,at New Delhi, also & Military Service Pay(MSP)anomalies, which he assured to look into.